Like trying to cram a huge sofa into a hatchback - Notts County a serious test of Harry Kewell's managerial prowess

Notts County players react after giving the first penalty away against Exeter City (Image: Dan Westwell)

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For those who were perched high enough in the away end, temporary relief from Notts County’s alarming start to the season came from outside Exeter City's stadium.

A family were desperately trying to cram a big sofa into a hatchback and while it raised a few laughs, they eventually succeeded in what appeared to be an impossible mission.

Similar perseverance is going to be required as far as this Notts team is concerned and it’s going to take some serious pushing, pulling, maybe even some dismantling, to finally spark this campaign into life.

This 5-1 defeat, the Magpies' heaviest in the league for 18 months, underlined the size of the job facing Harry Kewell, who also endured a miserable afternoon in which he was sent to the stands following a spat with referee Neil Hair.

The Australian admitted that it was a big job following his arrival, but it may now be dawning on him that the size of the task is greater than he first anticipated.